Jews “Slewed” Arabs by Advance Without Roads

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1949, Page 5

Jews “Slewed” Arabs by Advance Without Roads

(Rec. 11.0). LONDON, March 14. The correspondent of the Times at Tel Aviv discusses the implications of the Israeli troop movements in the Akaba area. He says: It is apparent troop movements have taken place, and that these are now completed. The military authorities here say that these movements were a natural consequence of the withdrawal of forces from an area covered by the terms of the armistice agreement between Israel and Egypt, and that the redeployment of Jewish forces was carried out with a scrupulous avoidance of anything which might result in incidents. It is generally believed that the reports of the frontier breaches and the clashes between the Israeli and Arab Legion forces arose from the fact that it was thought in Akaba, and in Amman, that no considerable movement of troops towards the Israeli Stretch could take place without the use of the roads which nass through the Transjordan territory. That, however, seems to be what the Israeli troops have accomplished.

Jewish Move is Serious Truce Breach LONDON, March 13 The Acting-Palestine Mediator, Dr Ralph Bunche, described the Israeli move to the Gulf of Akaba as "a serious breach of the truce,” says the British United Press correspondent at Rhodes. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS LANDS It is officially announced that British reinforcements, including troops, artillery and armour, have been unloading at Akaba since last evening, says Reuter’s Amman correspondent. Although the reinforcing force is small numerically, it is said to be compact and heavily ai;med. JEWISH-ARAB SKIRMISHES CONTINUE An Israeli armoured force, advancing along Wadi Araba, is now stated to be encamped in the area known as Wadi Ajarmah, midway between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. They are reported to be sending out continuous patrols, some of which engaged in skirmishes with Bedouin Arabs. JEWISH HOLD RED SEA COAST STRIP Israeli Government quarters said the Israeli troops are now in full possession of a six miles long coastal strip on the Gulf of Akaba, which the United Nations partition resolution granted to Israel. . An Israeli military spokesman described the Gulf of Akaba operation as “a regrouping of forces in the Negev following the Israeli-Egyptian armistice agreement, which provided for a reduction in certain zones of the Negev.” The occupation of the area opens the way for the Israeli resumption of the export of potash from the Dead Sea works through a harbour to be biult on the Red Sea. BRITISH GARRISON’S ORDERS Middle East headquarters are reported to have issued instructions to the Akaba garrison to observe a strict policy of non-interference with the Jews on the Palestine Red Sea coast It is reported that a copy of _ the secret orders of the British Middle East headquarters to the Akaba garrison has been sent to Dr Bunche. i The Arab Legion outpost of Gharandal faces the Israeli encampment across the frontier JERUSALEM QUESTION The Israeli-Transjordan armistice talks on Rhodes were adjourned until to-morrow after a one-hour session to-day. The U.N.O. mediator. Dr Bunche, and his advisers are working out a new approach to the complicated problem of the Jerusalem armistice lines.